A Stencil Corrected

A tarnished copper stencil plate lay propped against the damp masonry, its perforated lettering coated in dried soot. Among the cutouts, the capital letter 'Q' presented an untidy oval with an excessively flamboyant tail. From a cracked mortar seam at my feet, I extracted a blackened iron upholstery tack with a broad, flat head. Bracing both curved hands against the cold metal, I wedged the blunt shank directly into the open belly of the letter, seating the dark disc flush over the void. The aperture is now effectively blinded, reduced to an austere crescent of copper. Arbitrary typography requires prompt, unyielding correction.